Toto Wolff hints at Formula 1 power unit software parity for Mercedes customer teams

Mercedes qualified for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race in dominant fashion, over six tenths clear of Lando Norris, who was best of the rest with McLaren.

Given McLaren have the same power unit as Mercedes, the gap was a surprise, and while the chassis is not the same, that did not stop speculation about the parity of the power units between the works teams and its customers.

However, after his drivers locked the front row on the starting grid of Saturday's Sprint Race, Wolff discussed the gap to McLaren.

He said: "Everybody has a different concept, and with the McLaren, without going into the detail, they have taken some decisions that are very different to ours when it comes to, for example, gear ratios.

"That could have been good or could have been bad. But it's a brand-new car," he added.

Wolff claimed it was a matter of time until McLaren caught up with Mercedes and indirectly addressed the software rumors.

He explained: "It is the works teams that have their nose ahead, but it's just a matter of time. You see what the others are doing, you have the exact same hardware, you have the exact same software, but in that case how do you simulate it best?

"I have no doubt that McLaren are a formidable structure that it's not long before they are going to be part of the fight at the front," the Austrian concluded.

Russell pointed out after taking pole in Melbourne that other teams had Mercedes power units in an effort to highlight that his team have simply done a better job with the car overall. (Source: Sky Sports F1)